OBRABOTKAMETALLOV MATERIAL SCIENCE Vol. 26 No. 3 2024 Characterizing the mechanical behavior of eco-friendly hybrid polymer composites with jute and Sida cordifolia fibers Bhupendra Sharma 1, a, Rishi Dewangan 2, b, Shyam Sharma 3, с, * 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, 201313, India 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur, 303002, India 3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, 303007, India a https://orcid.org/ 0000-0002-3207-7286, bpsharma@amity.edu; b https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1973-6726, rdewangan@jpr.amity.edu; c https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1510-5871, shyamsunder.sharma@jaipur.manipal.edu Obrabotka metallov - Metal Working and Material Science Journal homepage: http://journals.nstu.ru/obrabotka_metallov Obrabotka metallov (tekhnologiya, oborudovanie, instrumenty) = Metal Working and Material Science. 2024 vol. 26 no. 3 pp. 267–285 ISSN: 1994-6309 (print) / 2541-819X (online) DOI: 10.17212/1994-6309-2024-26.3-267-285 ART I CLE I NFO Article history: Received: 18 April 2024 Revised: 11 June 2024 Accepted: 12 July 2024 Available online: 15 September 2024 Keywords: Sida cordifolia Malvaceae family Natural fiber composites Biodegradable natural fibers Mechanical characterization ABSTRACT Introduction. Recognition of the medicinal properties of plants is an integral part of traditional Indian health systems such as Unani, Siddha, Naturopathy and Ayurveda. Among others, Sida cordifolia, a member of the Malvaceae family, is especially celebrated in Ayurvedic medicine for its outstanding chemical properties. This plant grows in the subtropical and tropical climate of India and symbolizes the global shift towards more environmentally friendly materials. Given the rising environmental concerns, there is an increased demand for biodegradable and renewable resources for industrial applications, especially for reinforcing polymer matrices with natural fibers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Sida cordifolia fibers combined with jute for reinforcing polylactic acid (PLA) composites. This highlights its potential to improve both environmental quality and mechanical properties of materials. Materials and method. The study involved the fabrication of four different composite specimens: : a solely 4-layered jute fiber mat, untreated Sida cordifolia fibers combined with a 4-layered jute mat, and Sida cordifolia fibers treated with benzoylation combined with a 4-layered jute mat. These composites were subjected to mechanical testing focusing on tensile strength and flexural strength. Its microstructural analysis was also carried out. Results and discussion. The results show that benzoylation-treated Sida cordifolia fibers exhibit significantly higher strength compared to its untreated counterparts. At the same time, an increase in the proportion of Sida cordifolia fibers in composites while maintaining a constant total mass correlates with an increase in the strength of the materials. These results indicate that Sida cordifolia and jute fiber-reinforced PLA composites can provide a competitive, environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fiber-reinforced composites in a variety of industrial applications. In conclusion, treated natural fibers like Sida cordifolia can significantly improve the mechanical properties of polymer composites, supporting its use as environmentally friendly, high-performance materials in a variety of industries. This research not only promotes the use of natural fibers for commercial applications, but also contributes to the larger goal of sustainable materials science. For citation: Sharma B.P., Dewangan R., Sharma S.S. Characterizing the mechanical behavior of eco-friendly hybrid polymer composites with jute and Sida cordifolia fibers. Obrabotka metallov (tekhnologiya, oborudovanie, instrumenty) = Metal Working and Material Science, 2024, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 267–285. DOI: 10.17212/1994-6309-2024-26.3-267-285. (In Russian). ______ * Corresponding author Sharma Shyam S., D.Sc. (Engineering), Assistant Professor Manipal University Jaipur, 303007, Jaipur, India Tel.: +91-9887765320, e-mail: shyamsunder.sharma@jaipur.manipal.edu Introduction Natural composites are intrinsic to nature itself, the most obvious example of which is wood, a composite of long cellulose fibers held together by lignin. Composite materials are a combination of two or more different components that retain its individual properties without merging or dissolving. This unique combination gives the composite special characteristics, enhancing its functionality. Composite materials have played an important role in various fields throughout history. As early as 1500 BC, ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and Mesopotamians used a mixture of mud and straw to construct durable structures,
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